Many people have heard the expression, “London Bridge has fallen down!” There is even a song about it. "London Bridge Is Falling Down" (also known as "My Fair Lady" or "London Bridge") is a traditional English nursery rhyme and singing game which is found in different versions all over the world.
The interesting point behind the story comes from history, as literally London Bridge collapsed twice in 1281 (five arches) and 1437 (two arches). The 1281 collapse happened when expanding ice from the frozen Thames literally crushed five of the arches. Eleanor, Queen of England and unpopular at the best of times was blamed for misappropriating bridge revenues and failing to use them for repairs.
The snowiest winter of the twentieth century in the United Kingdom was 1947. Between 22 January and 17 March, snow fell every day somewhere in the country. The most disastrous avalanche in the United Kingdom occurred in Lewes, East Sussex on 27 December 1836.
However, winters were harsher, whereas in comparison with the present times there is less snow and consequently cold weather is a thing of the past. However, there are still floods from time to time. This is most likely connected to climate change and global warming which is encouraged with a growing population and unwanted gas emissions.
Mentioning about floods, the worst was the Thames flood of 1928 that killed 14 people and made thousands homeless. The North Sea flood of 1953, similar to that of 1287, killed over 300 people along the east coast of England and six times that number in the low-lying Netherlands (Holland).
Snow is a piece of fancy-looking ice that drops in small pieces but accumulates into a larger form when it settles. Water changes states at 0°C or 32°F, and ice is the solid state of water. The snow will melt above 32° or freeze below 32° as a result of this.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
Harsher (adj) = stricter, severer, tougher, punitive, exacting, unforgiving, (ant) lenient
Floods (n) = downpours, torrents, tidal wave, overflows, inundations
Settles (v) = relaxes, become peaceful or calm, The phrasal verb, ‘settle down’ means to become quiet, calm, or orderly. Settle down, children. When things settle down here, I'll come for a visit i.e., to begin to live a quiet and steady life by getting a regular job, getting married, etc. “They swore they would never settle down and get married.”
To settle can also mean to agree about something. Settle a bill means to pay it. Settle a disagreement means to sort it out and find a solution.
The Neverlands (Holland) = many people refer to Holland as the Neverlands, but truth be known Holland is only part of the Neverlands.